Regular and Irregular Verbs

Regular and Irregular Verbs

 

Main Verbs

• The main verb expresses the main action or state of being of the subject in the sentence.  
• Main Verbs are also called lexical verbs, full verbs, principal verbs, or non-auxiliary verbs.
• It changes its form according to the subject and the tense.
• Main verbs are helped sometimes by the auxiliary verbs to give full meaning.

 

For examples:

• Geetha usually sits on the backbench.
• Teena stands in the front row.
• Naveena is a clever student.
• Bhanu has seen this movie several times.
• Shivani has been attending the live classes.

 

 Main verbs are further divided into two different groups – 

(1) Regular and Irregular Verbs (2) Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

 

Every main verb has five forms as shown in the table below.

Regular and Irregular Verbs

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs normally form their past and past participle forms by adding -ed to the base form.

List of the Regular Verbs with the spelling rules: (Weak Verbs)

Base form/ Plain Infinitive/ Present Tense	Past Tense	Past Participle	Present Participle	-s or es Form
(V1)	(V2)	(V3)	(V4)	(V5)
By adding –ed to the base form
accept	accepted	accepted	accepting	accepts
act	acted	acted	acting	acts
add	added	added	adding	adds
allow	allowed	allowed	allowing	allows
answer	answered	answered	answering	answers
appear	appeared	appeared	appearing	appears
applaud	applauded	applauded	applauding	applauds
arrest	arrested	arrested	arresting	arrests
ask	asked	asked	asking	asks
attack	attacked	attacked	attacking	attacks
attempt	attempted	attempted	attempting	attempts
awaken	awakened	awakened	awakening	awakens
bang	banged	banged	banging	bangs
belong	belonged	belonged	belonging	belongs
beam	beamed	beamed	beaming	beams
bless	blessed	blessed	blessing	blesses
blind	blinded	blinded	blinding	blinds
blink	blinked	blinked	blinking	blinks
branch	branched	branched	branching	branches
bump	bumped	bumped	bumping	bumps
burn	burned/burnt	burned/burnt	burning	burns
cheat	cheated	cheated	cheating	cheats
check	checked	checked	checking	checks
chew	chewed	chewed	chewing	chews
clean	cleaned	cleaned	cleaning	cleans
coach	coached	coached	coaching	coaches
command	commanded	commanded	commanding	commands
concern	concerned	concerned	concerning	concerns
connect	connected	connected	connecting	connects
consist	consisted	consisted	consisting	consists
deliver	delivered	delivered	delivering	delivers
desert	deserted	deserted	deserting	deserts
detect	detected	detected	detecting	detects
develop	developed	developed	developing	develops
disturb	disturbed	disturbed	disturbing	disturbs
dream	dreamed	dreamed	dreaming	dreams
dress	dressed	dressed	dressing	dresses
drown	drowned	drowned	drowning	drowns
dust	dusted	dusted	dusting	dusts
embarrass	embarrassed	embarrassed	embarrassing	embarrasses
end	ended	ended	ending	ends
enter	entered	entered	entering	enters
entertain	entertained	entertained	entertaining	entertains
exist	existed	existed	existing	exists
expand	expanded	expanded	expanding	expands
extend	extended	extended	extending	extends
fail	failed	failed	failing	fails
fasten	fastened	fastened	fastening	fastens
fetch	fetched	fetched	fetching	fetches
fill	filled	filled	filling	fills
film	filmed	filmed	filming	films
fix	fixed	fixed	fixing	fixes
flood	flooded	flooded	flooding	floods
flow	flowed	flowed	flowing	flows
flower	flowered	flowered	flowering	flowers
follow	followed	followed	following	follows
form	formed	formed	forming	forms
frighten	frightened	frightened	frightening	frightens
gather	gathered	gathered	gathering	gathers
glow	glowed	glowed	glowing	glows
greet	greeted	greeted	greeting	greets
groan	groaned	groaned	groaning	groans
guard	guarded	guarded	guarding	guards
guess	guessed	guessed	guessing	guesses
hammer	hammered	hammered	hammering	hammers
hang	hanged/hung	hanged/hung	hanging	hangs
happen	happened	happened	happening	happens
heat	heated	heated	heating	heats
heap	heaped	heaped	heaping	heaps
heal	healed	healed	healing	heals
help	helped	helped	helping	helps
hunt	hunted	hunted	hunting	hunts
impress	impressed	impressed	impressing	impresses
inform	informed	informed	informing	informs
inject	injected	injected	injecting	injects
instruct	instructed	instructed	instructing	instructs
intend	intended	intended	intending	intends
interest	interested	interested	interesting	interests
interrupt	interrupted	interrupted	interrupting	interrupts
invent	invented	invented	inventing	invents
itch	itched	itched	itching	itches
jail	jailed	jailed	jailing	jails
join	joined	joined	joining	joins
jump	jumped	jumped	jumping	jumps
kick	kicked	kicked	kicking	kicks
kill	killed	killed	killing	kills
kiss	kissed	kissed	kissing	kisses
kneel	kneeled/knelt	kneeled/knelt	kneeling	kneels
knock	knocked	knocked	knocking	knocks
land	landed	landed	landing	lands
learn	learned/learnt	learned/learnt	learning	learns
lick	licked	licked	licking	licks
lighten	lightened	lightened	lightening	lightens
listen	listened	listened	listening	listens
load	loaded	loaded	loading	loads
lock	locked	locked	locking	locks
look	looked	looked	looking	looks
march	marched	marched	marching	marchs
mark	marked	marked	marking	marks
match	matched	matched	matching	matches
melt	melted	melted	melting	melts
mend	mended	mended	mending	mends
miss	missed	missed	missing	misses
mix	mix	mix	mix	mix
murder	murdered	murdered	murdering	murders
nail	nailed	nailed	nailing	nails
need	needed	needed	needing	needs
nest	nested	nested	nesting	nests
object	objected	objected	objecting	objects
obtain	obtained	obtained	obtaining	obtains
offend	offended	offended	offending	offends
open	opened	opened	opening	opens
own	owned	owned	owning	owns
pack	packed	packed	packing	packs
paint	painted	painted	painting	paints
park	parked	parked	parking	parks
part	parted	parted	parting	parts
pass	passed	passed	passing	passes
perform	performed	performed	performing	performs
pinch	pinched	pinched	pinching	pinches
plant	planted	planted	planting	plants
point	pointed	pointed	pointing	points
present	presented	presented	presenting	presents
pretend	pretended	pretended	pretending	pretends
programm	programmed	programmed	programming	programmes
protect	protected	protected	protecting	protects
punish	punished	punished	punishing	punishes
question	questioned	questioned	questioning	questions
rain	rained	rained	raining	rains
record	recorded	recorded	recording	records
reflect	reflected	reflected	reflecting	reflects
reject	rejected	rejected	rejecting	rejects
remind	reminded	reminded	reminding	reminds
review	reviewed	reviewed	reviewing	reviews
rock	rocked	rocked	rocking	rocks
rush	rushed	rushed	rushing	rushes
sail	sailed	sailed	sailing	sails
saw	sawed	sawed	sawing	saws
scold	scolded	scolded	scolding	scolds
scratch	scratched	scratched	scratching	scratches
scream	screamed	screamed	screaming	screams
seal	sealed	sealed	sealing	seals
search	searched	searched	searching	searches
shock	shocked	shocked	shocking	shocks
sigh	sighed	sighed	sighing	sighs
smash	smashed	smashed	smashing	smashes
snatch	snatched	snatched	snatching	snatches
snow	snowed	snowed	snowing	snows
soak	soaked	soaked	soaking	soaks
sound	sounded	sounded	sounding	sounds
spark	sparked	sparked	sparking	sparks
stain	stained	stained	staining	stains
stamp	stamped	stamped	stamping	stamps
start	started	started	starting	starts
suggest	suggested	suggested	suggesting	suggests
support	supported	supported	supporting	supports
suspect	suspected	suspected	suspecting	suspects
suspend	suspended	suspended	suspending	suspends
talk	talked	talked	talking	talks
tempt	tempted	tempted	tempting	tempts
test	tested	tested	testing	tests
thank	thanked	thanked	thanking	thanks
touch	touched	touched	touching	touches
trust	trusted	trusted	trusting	trusts
turn	turned	turned	turning	turns
undress	undressed	undressed	undressing	undresses
unlock	unlocked	unlocked	unlocking	unlocks
vanish	vanished	vanished	vanishing	vanishes
visit	visited	visited	visiting	visits
wait	waited	waited	waiting	waits
walk	walked	walked	walking	walks
want	wanted	wanted	wanting	wants
warn	warned	warned	warning	warns
wash	washed	washed	washing	washes
watch	watched	watched	watching	watches
wink	winked	winked	winking	winks
wish	wished	wished	wishing	wishes
work	worked	worked	working	works
wreck	wrecked	wrecked	wrecking	wrecks
yawn	yawned	yawned	yawning	yawns
yell	yelled	yelled	yelling	yells
zoom	zoomed	zoomed	zooming	zooms
We only add -d (not -ed) to the Regular Verbs that end in -e
analyse	analysed	analysed	analysing	analyses
apologise	apologised	apologised	apologising	apologises
admire	admired	admired	admiring	admires
agree	agreed	agreed	agreeing	agrees
approve	approved	approved	approving	approves
behave	behaved	behaved	behaving	behaves
change	changed	changed	changing	changes
care	cared	cared	caring	cares
bake	baked	baked	baking	bakes
argue	argued	argued	arguing	argues
appreciate	appreciated	appreciated	appreciating	appreciates
bore	bored	bored	boring	bores
breathe	breathed	breathed	breathing	breathes
cause	caused	caused	causing	causes
charge	charged	charged	charging	charges
chase	chased	chased	chasing	chases
close	closed	closed	closing	closes
compare	compared	compared	comparing	compares
complete	completed	completed	completing	completes
like	liked	liked	liking	likes
decide	decided	decided	deciding	decides
escape	escaped	escaped	escaping	escapes
force	forced	forced	forcing	forces
guide	guided	guided	guiding	guides
hate	hated	hated	hating	hates
hope	hoped	hoped	hoping	hopes
invite	invited	invited	inviting	invites
live	lived	lived	living	lives
move	moved	moved	moving	moves
manage	managed	managed	managing	manages
notice	noticed	noticed	noticing	notices
owe	owed	owed	owing	owes
phone	phoned	phoned	phoning	phones
recognise	recognised	recognised	recognising	recognises
remove	removed	removed	removing	removes
settle	settled	settled	settling	settles
shave	shaved	shaved	shaving	shaves
smile	smiled	smiled	smiling	smiles
snore	snored	snored	snoring	snores
stare	stared	stared	staring	stares
taste	tasted	tasted	tasting	tastes
use	used	used	using	uses
When the Regular Verbs end in a consonant and –y, we change –y into -i and add -ed.
accompany	accompanied	accompanied	accompanying	accompanies
apply	applied	applied	applying	applies
bully	bullied	bullied	bullying	bullies
bury	buried	buried	burying	buries
carry	carried	carried	carrying	carries
clarify	clarified	clarified	clarifying	clarifies
copy	copied	copied	copying	copies
cry	cried	cried	crying	cries
deny	denied	denied	denying	denies
dry	dried	dried	drying	dries
empty	emptied	emptied	emptying	empties
fancy	fancied	fancied	fancying	fancies
fry	fried	fried	frying	fries
horrify	horrified	horrified	horrifying	horrifies
hurry	hurried	hurried	hurrying	hurries
identify	identified	identified	identifying	identifies
imply	implied	implied	implying	implies
marry	married	married	marrying	marries
multiply	multiplied	multiplied	multiplying	multiplies
rely	relied	relied	relying	relies
reply	replied	replied	replying	replies
satisfy	satisfied	satisfied	satisfying	satisfies
supply	supplied	supplied	supplying	supplies
study	studied	studied	studying	studies
terrify	terrified	terrified	terrifying	terrifies
tidy	tidied	tidied	tidying	tidies
try	tried	tried	trying	tries
Note: We add –ed without changing -y into -i if the verb ends in a vowel and -y
annoy	annoyed	annoyed	annoying	annoys
delay	delayed	delayed	delaying	delays
destroy	destroyed	destroyed	destroying	destroys
enjoy	enjoyed	enjoyed	enjoying	enjoys
employ	employed	employed	employing	employs
play	played	played	playing	plays
spray	sprayed	sprayed	spraying	sprays
stay	stayed	stayed	staying	stays
x-ray	x-rayed	x-rayed	x-raying	x-rays
When the Regular Verbs end in a single vowel and a consonant, we double the consonant and add –ed
ban	banned	banned	banning	bans
beg	begged	begged	begging	begs
chat	chatted	chatted	chatting	chats
chop	chopped	chopped	chopping	chops
clap	clapped	clapped	clapping	claps
clip	clipped	clipped	clipping	clips
drop	dropped	dropped	dropping	drops
drag	dragged	dragged	dragging	drags
fit	fitted	fitted	fitting	fits
flip	flipped	flipped	flipping	flips
grab	grabbed	grabbed	grabbing	grabs
grin	grinned	grinned	grinning	grins
grip	gripped	gripped	gripping	grips
hug	hugged	hugged	hugging	hugs
jog	jogged	jogged	jogging	jogs
knit	knitted	knitted	knitting	knits
mug	mugged	mugged	mugging	mugs
nod	nodded	nodded	nodding	nods
pat	patted	patted	patting	pats
plan	planned	planned	planing	plans
rob	robbed	robbed	robbing	robs
shop	shopped	shopped	shopping	shops
skid	skidded	skidded	skidding	skids
scrub	scrubbed	scrubbed	scrubbing	scrubs
ship	shipped	shipped	shipping	ships
skip	skipped	skipped	skipping	skips
slip	slipped	slipped	slipping	slips
snap	snapped	snapped	snapping	snaps
spot	spotted	spotted	spotting	spots
star	starred	starred	starring	stars
stir	stirred	stirred	stirring	stirs
thin	thinned	thinned	thinning	thins
top	topped	topped	topping	tops
trip	tripped	tripped	tripping	trips
wrap	wrapped	wrapped	wrapping	wraps
admit	admitted	admitted	admitting	admits
commit	committed	committed	committing	commits
confer	conferred	conferred	conferring	confers
deter	deterred	deterred	detering	deters
kidnap	kidnapped	kidnapped	kidnapping	kidnaps
permit	permitted	permitted	permitting	permits
prefer	preferred	preferred	preferring	prefers
refer	referred	referred	referring	refers
regret	regretted	regretted	regretting	regrets
transfer	transferred	transferred	transferring	transfers
transmit	transmitted	transmitted	transmitting	transmits
cancel	cancelled	cancelled	cancelling	cancels
control	controlled	controlled	controlling	controls
label	labelled	labelled	labelling	labels
marvel	marvelled	marvelled	marvelling	marvels
patrol	patrolled	patrolled	patrolling	patrols
pedal	pedalled	pedalled	pedalling	pedals
quarrel	quarrelled	quarrelled	quarrelling	quarrels
travel	travelled	travelled	travelling	travels

How to pronounce -ed at the end of the verb:

There are three ways to pronounce -ed, depending on the last letter of the verb.

 

/t/	/id/	/d/
Verbs ending                   -f, -k, -ss, -ch, -sh, -x -p Ex: watched, fixed, kicked	Verbs ending in -d or -t Ex: needed, wanted	Verbs ending with all other letters Ex: listened, played

Irregular Verbs

There are approximately 200 irregular verbs in English. They are divided into four types:

1. Irregular Verbs which are the same in base form, past tense and past participle (Unchangeable Irregular Verbs)
2. Irregular Verbs which are the same in the past tense and past participle
3. Irregular Verbs which are the same in base form and past participle
4. Irregular Verbs which are different in base form, past tense and past participle

List of the Irregular Verbs: 

Base Form, Past Tense, and Past Participle are the same:  (Unchangeable Irregular Verbs)
Base form/ Plain Infinitive/ Present Tense	Past Tense	Past Participle	Present Participle	-s or es Form
(V1)	(V2)	(V3)	(V4)	(V5)
bet	bet	bet	betting	bets
bid	bid/bade	bid/bidden	bidding	bids
broadcast	broadcast	broadcast	broadcasting	broadcasts
burst	burst	burst	bursting	bursts
cost	cost	cost	costing	costs
cut	cut	cut	cutting	cuts
hit	hit	hit	hitting	hits
hurt	hurt	hurt	hurting	hurts
let	let	let	letting	lets
put	put	put	putting	puts
read	read	read	reading	reads
quit	quit	quit	quitting	quits
set	set	set	setting	sets
shut	shut	shut	shutting	shuts
split	split	split	splitting	splits
spread	spread	spread	spreading	spreads

 

Past Tense and Past Participle are the same: (the verbs ending in -d or -t  are Weak Verbs and the remaining are Strong Verbs)
Base form/ Plain Infinitive/ Present Tense	Past Tense	Past Participle	Present Participle	-s or es Form
(V1)	(V2)	(V3)	(V4)	(V5)
bend	bent	bent	bending	bends
bleed	bled	bled	bleeding	bleeds
breed	bred	bred	breeding	breeds
bring	brought	brought	bringing	brings
build	built	built	building	builds
burn	burnt/ burned	burn/  burned	burning	burns
buy	bought	bought	buying	buys
catch	caught	caught	catching	catches
cling	clung	clung	clinging	clings
creep	crept	crept	creeping	creeps
deal	dealt	dealt	dealing	deals
dig	dug	dug	digging	digs
dream	dreamt/ dreamed	dreamt/  dreamed	dreaming	dreams
feed	fed	fed	feeding	feeds
feel	felt	felt	feeling	feels
fight	fought	fought	fighting	fights
find	found	found	finding	finds
flee	fled	fled	fleeing	flees
get	got	got/gotten	getting	gets
grind	ground	ground	grinding	grinds
hang	hung/ hanged	hung/ hanged	hanging	hangs
have	had	had	having	has
hear	heard	heard	hearing	hears
hide	hid	hid/hidden	hiding	hides
hold	held	held	holding	holds
keep	kept	kept	keeping	keeps
kneel	knelt/ kneeled	knelt/ kneeled	kneeling	kneels
lay	laid	laid	laying	lays
lead	led	led	leading	leads
leave	left	left	leaving	leaves
lean	lent/leaned	lent/leaned	leaning	leans
learn	learnt/ learned	learnt/ learned	learning	learns
leap	leapt/ leaped	leapt/ leaped	leaping	leaps
lend	lent	lent	lending	lends
light	lit	lit	lighting	lights
lose	lost	lost	losing	loses
make	made	made	making	makes
mean	meant	meant	meaning	means
meet	met	met	meeting	meets
pay	paid	paid	paying	pays
say	said	said	saying	says
seek	sought	sought	seeking	seeks
sell	sold	sold	selling	sells
send	sent	sent	sending	sends
shine	shone	shone	shining	shines
shoot	shot	shot	shooting	shoots
sit	sat	sat	sitting	sits
sleep	slept	slept	sleeping	sleeps
smell	smelt/ smelled	smelt/ smelled	smelling	smells
spell	spelt	spelt	spelling	spells
speed	sped	sped	speeding	speeds
spill	spilt/ spilled	spill/ spilled	spilling	spills
slide	slid	slid	sliding	slides
sling	slung	slung	slinging	slings
spend	spent	spent	spending	spends
spoil	spoilt/ spoiled	spoilt/ spoiled	spoiling	spoils
spit	spat	spat	spitting	spits
stand	stood	stood	standing	stands
stick	stuck	stuck	sticking	sticks
sting	stung	stung	stinging	stings
strike	struck	struck	striking	strikes
string	strung	strung	stringin	strings
sweep	swept	swept	sweeping	sweeps
swing	swung	swung	swinging	swings
teach	taught	taught	teaching	teaches
tell	told	told	telling	tells
think	thought	thought	thinking	thinks
understand	understood	understood	understanding	understands
weep	wept	wept	weeping	weeps
win	won	won	winning	wins
wind	wound	wound	winding	winds

 

 

Base Form and Past Participle are the same: (Strong Verbs)
Base form/ Plain Infinitive/ Present Tense	Past Tense	Past Participle	Present Participle	-s or es Form
(V1)	(V2)	(V3)	(V4)	(V5)
become	became	become	becoming	becomes
come	came	come	coming	comes
run	ran	run	running	runs
beat*	beat*	beaten*	beating	beats

 

Base Form, Past Tense and Past Participle, are different: (Strong Verbs)
Base form/ Plain Infinitive/ Present Tense	Past Tense	Past Participle	Present Participle	-s or es Form
(V1)	(V2)	(V3)	(V4)	(V5)
abide	abode/ abided	abode/ abided/ abidden	abiding	abides
arise	arose	arisen	arising	arises
awake	awoke	awoken	awaking	awakes
be (am/are)	was /were	been	being	is
bear	bore	born/ borne	bearing	bears
begin	began	begun	beginning	begins
bite	bit	bitten	biting	bites
blow	blew	blown	blowing	blows
break	broke	broken	breaking	breaks
choose	chose	chosen	choosing	chooses
cleave	clove/ cleft	cloven/cleft	cleaving	cleaves
do	did	done	doing	does
draw	drew	drawn	drawing	draws
drink	drank	drunk/ drunken(adj)	drinking	drink
drive	drove	driven	driving	drives
eat	ate	eaten	eating	eats
fall	fell	fallen	falling	falls
fly	flew	flown	flying	flys
forbid	forbade	forbidden	forbidding	forbids
forget	forgot	forgotten	forgetting	forgets
forgive	forgave	forgiven	forgiving	forgives
forsake	forsook	forsaken	forsaking	forsakes
freeze	froze	frozen	freezing	freezes
give	gave	given	giving	gives
go	went	gone	going	goes
grow	grew	grown	growing	grows
hide	hid	hidden/hid	hiding	hides
know	knew	known	knowing	knows
lie	lay	lain	lying	lies
mistake	mistook	mistaken	mistaking	mistakes
ride	rode	ridden	riding	rides
ring	rang	rung	ringing	rings
rise	rose	risen	rising	rises
see	saw	seen	seeing	sees
sew	sewed	sewn	sewing	sews
shave	shaved	shaven/ shaved	shaving	shaves
shake	shook	shaken	shaking	shakes
show	showed	shown	showing	shows
shrink	shrank	shrunk	shrinking	shrinks
sink	sank	sunk	sinking	sinks
sing	sang	sung	singing	sings
slay	slew	slain	slaying	slays
sow	sowed	sown	sowing	sows
speak	spoke	spoken	speaking	speaks
spin	span/spun	spun	spinning	spins
spring	sprang	sprung	springing	springs
steal	stole	stolen	stealing	steals
stink	stank	stunk	stinking	stinks
swear	swore	sworn	swearing	swears
swim	swam	swum	swimming	swims
take	took	taken	taking	takes
tear	tore	torn	tearing	tears
throw	threw	thrown	throwing	throws
tread	trod	trod/ trodden	treading	treads
wake	woke	woken	waking	wakes
wear	wore	worn	wearing	wears
weave	wove	woven	weaving	weaves
write	wrote	written	writing	writes

 

The Main Verbs in English can also be divided into Strong and Weak Verbs, according to the way in which they form their Past Tense and Past Participle.    Strong Verbs Strong verbs are those that form their Past Tense and Past Participle by changing inside vowels without adding any suffix.    Weak Verbs Weak Verbs are those that form their Past Tense and Past Participle by adding -d, -ed, or –t, to the base verb.   Actually, this division is given more importance in old English grammar rather than in modern English grammar. Moreover, it is a bit confusing to the learners as well as to the teachers of the English language. So, it is always advisable to concentrate on the terms Regular and Irregular Verbs rather than Strong and Weak verbs.

 

 Some Troublesome Verbs:

Base form	Past Tense	Past Participle	Meaning
Bear	Bore	Born	To give birth
Bear	Bore	Borne	To carry
fall	fell	fallen	To drop-down
fell	felled	felled	To cause something to fall
find	found	found	To discover
found	founded	founded	To begin
hang	hung	hung	To suspend /display
hang	hanged	hanged	To put to death by tying a rope round the neck
lie	lay	lain	To rest or remain
lie	lied	lied	To speak falsely
lay	laid	laid	To put/place something down
rise	rose	risen	To get up, to come up
raise	raised	raised	To lift
see	saw	seen	To perceive with eyes
saw	sawed	sawn/sawed	To cut (wood)

Related:

• Semi-Modal Auxiliary Verbs
• Modal Auxiliary Verbs
• Primary Auxiliary Verbs